Heather Leigh

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
heatherleigh_A3 DONE
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAheatherleigh_A3 DONE

Altmusic is proud to present Heather Leigh (SCOT) as part of Altmusic’s programme of independent & adventurous international musicians touring New Zealand in 2012.

Well known for her transgressive pedal steel performances both solo and alongside collaborators such as Chris Corsano (as half of Jailbreak), Richard Youngs and noise/dream merchants the Charalambides, Glasgow-based guitarist Heather Leigh’s expressively rich amplified string and vocal tangles electrify audiences wherever she travels. Equally capable of ‘thousand-yard-stare’, Jandek-esque outsider drone/folk and mindmelting improvised noise/rock, Leigh encompasses all realms – a crucial figure on the post-noise/whatever scene and an amazingly energetic, must-see live performer.

‘…she’s turned pedal steel strings into tight ropes, spinning often claustrophobic and visceral works of beauty. In much of her largely improvised works, strangely solid structures form out of 15-minute free-form explorations into often uncomfortable textures and spaces. Yeah, she can shred alright. But indeed, it’s that gritty sense of beauty that underscores most of her work, coarse and seemingly uncontrolled.’ Tiny Mix Tapes

‘Weather shredding strings like standing six-string players or building instant, miniature drones on the horizontal instrument, Murray’s range on the pedal steel creates a singular, and often non-guitar, sound.’ Dusted magazine

Currently based in Scotland, Heather Leigh has released a number of solo recordings including the acclaimed Empire (Kendra Steiner Editions, 2012) and Devil If You Can Hear Me (Not Not Fun, 2007). A frequent collaborator, Leigh has recorded works with the aforementioned artists Chris Corsano and the Charalambides; as well as groups Sources and Ash Castles On The Ghost Coast.

Tour dates are as follows – tickets available through Undertheradar:

Auckland – October 10th at Audio Foundation HQ w/ Rosy Parlane & Greg Malcolm/Chris O’Connor duo, 7.30pm, $10
Wellington – October 13th at Medusa w/ Omit, 9pm, $10
Dunedin – October 18th at Chicks w/ Antony Milton and Eye (Leigh will be performing w/ Robbie Yeats), 8.30pm, $10
Christchurch – October 19th at Physics Room w/ Roy Montgomery and John Mallard (Leigh will be performing w/ Robbie Yeats), 8pm, $10

Heather Leigh website
For more press/interview information please contact: chris@audiofoundation.org.nz
Altmusic is a programme administered by the Audio Foundation: www.audiofoundation.org.nz
Thanks to CNZ